Controversial Father Xmas reinstated in parade
The man replaced as parade’s Father Christmas is donning the red suit again
The man who was last week replaced as Santa in Auckland’s Christmas parade has been reinstated at the last minute for today’s event.
Organisers had parted ways with Neville Baker after he made what they labelled “inappropriate” comments.
The parade along Auckland’s Queen St was postponed last Sunday due to poor weather, but had been scheduled to proceed today with a new person in the role of Santa.
However, Baker told the Herald on Sunday last night he was told he would be reinstated and would appear today as Santa in the parade, as he has the previous five years.
Baker read what he said was a joint prepared statement confirming the reinstatement.
He added: “Putting all this behind me, it’s all about the children, it’s all about the parade and making sure that goes ahead.”
The original controversy began on November 18, when the Herald on Sunday published an interview with Baker, who said he did not cast any female applicants for the role of Santa.
“They apply, and you say, ‘have you misread the ad?’ Putting politically correct things to one side, there’s a certain character people expect to find when they come to meet Santa,” Baker said.
In the wake of Baker’s comments, parade organisers announced on November 24 they were no longer employing their Santa through the My Santa company.
“We are distancing ourselves from this company. We found his comments to be inappropriate and unnecessary and will not be using their services for the parade,” said Michael Barnett, chairman of the Children’s Christmas Parade Trust which runs the parade.
Barnett said Baker’s comments “did not sound like the values of a family parade”.
The organisers’ decision to part ways with Baker was however extremely contentious. A Herald online poll of 34,000 readers found 90 per cent believed Baker should not have been removed.
Nearly 2000 people also took to the Herald’s Facebook page to comment on the decision, with the majority critical.
If today's weather is torrential, a parade cancellation will be announced on Newstalk ZB after 10am. The parade will go ahead in light rain.
Farmers has been sponsoring the parade since 1934 as a gift to the children of Auckland.
It’s all about the parade and making sure that goes ahead.
Neville Baker